Skip to main content

Table 2 Frequency of app features grouped by platform

From: Medication management support in diabetes: a systematic assessment of diabetes self-management apps

Classification

 

App features

All apps (n = 143) (%)

Android (n = 81) (%)

iOS (n = 62) (%)

p value

Planning and organisation

1.1

The app has a feature that allows the user to display scheduled medications as different visual compartments (e.g. visual pillbox in the app)

7 (4.9)

4 (4.9)

3 (4.8)

1.000^

1.2

The app has a feature that allows the user to switch between daily and weekly medication schedule displays

4 (2.8)

3 (3.7)

1 (1.6)

0.633^

1.3

The app has a feature that allows the user to schedule medication-taking on alternate days (e.g. Pill A on Monday, Wednesday, Friday; Pill B on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday)

37 (25.9)

24 (29.6)

13 (21.0)

0.241

1.4

The app has a feature to enter the purpose of the medication

42 (29.4)

22 (27.2)

20 (32.3)

0.507

1.5

The app has a feature that allows the user to enter special instructions for medication (e.g. taken before food)

57 (39.9)

33 (40.7)

24 (38.7)

0.806

1.6

The app has a feature that allows the user to organise “take as needed” medications in a separate section from medicines with a fixed regimen

12 (8.4)

6 (7.4)

6 (9.7)

0.628

1.7

The app has a feature that allows the user to enter/log at least 4 different medications at any given time

98 (68.5)

56 (69.1)

42 (67.7)

0.859

1.8

The app has a variety of dosage input options (e.g. subcutaneous insulin for diabetes, oral medications)

123 (86.0)

66 (81.5)

57 (91.9)

0.074

1.9

The app has a feature that allows the user to document allergies (i.e. via prompts/greyed out instructions or a separate tab)

5 (3.5)

4 (4.9)

1 (1.6)

0.389^

1.10

The app has a feature that allows the user to sync medication-taking schedule with the phone calendar

7 (4.9)

2 (2.5)

5 (8.1)

0.239^

Monitoring and adherence

2.1

The app has a feature that allows the user to record the fraction of an actual pill or volume of a liquid medication prescribed (i.e. ½ pill or 5 ml of syrup) to be recorded.

83 (58.0)

45 (55.6)

38 (61.3)

0.491

2.2

The app has a feature that allows users to document medication-intake

112 (78.3)

57 (70.4)

55 (88.7)

0.008*

2.3

The app has a feature that allows users to record notes on any medication event (i.e. a “note/comment” section at the logging page or as a separate tab)

70 (49.0)

35 (43.2)

35 (56.5)

0.116

2.4

The app has a feature that allows users to document medication side-effects (i.e. via prompts/greyed-out instructions or a separate tab)

5 (3.5)

4 (4.9)

1 (1.6)

0.389^

2.5

The app has a feature that assesses medication adherence by comparing planned and actual medication taking (e.g. the app generates weekly percentage of adherence or has a visual display).

24 (16.8)

17 (21.0)

7 (11.3)

0.175

Information provision

3.1

The app has a feature that provides users with information about the prescribed medication

12 (8.4)

6 (7.4)

6 (9.7)

0.628

3.2

The app has a feature that provides users with resources (in-app or external link) to access information about the prescribed medication

8 (5.6)

4 (4.9)

4 (6.5)

0.727^

Complementary medicines

4.1

The app has a feature that asks users about the use of complementary medicines

2 (1.4)

0 (0.0)

2 (3.2)

0.186^

4.2

The app has a feature that flags possible contraindications with the use of complementary medicines

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

1.000^

Reminders

5.1

The app has a feature that allows users to set up reminders for taking medications

83 (58.0)

47 (58.0)

36 (58.1)

0.996

5.2

The app has a feature that allows users to set up reminders to refill prescriptions

9 (11.1)

6 (9.7)

15 (10.5)

0.782

Motivation

6.1

The app has a feature that provides statements to motivate users about the importance of medication adherence

8 (5.6)

3 (3.7)

5 (8.1)

0.293^

6.2

The app has a feature that provides encouragement when medication is taken on schedule (i.e. encouraging messages, “badges or awards”)

6 (4.2)

3 (3.7)

3 (4.8)

1.000^

Caregiver’s involvement

7.1

The app has a feature that allows users to sync medication-taking schedule with caregiver’s phone

9 (6.3)

5 (6.2)

4 (6.5)

1.000^

7.2

The app has a feature that supports multiple user profiles (e.g. For family members or carers)

22 (15.4)

11 (13.6)

11 (17.7)

0.494

Communication with healthcare provider

8.1

The app has a feature that allows users to contact a healthcare provider regarding queries on medication

16 (11.2)

7 (8.6)

9 (14.5)

0.269

Communication with health system

9.1

The app has a feature that supports data export

89 (62.7)

44 (55.0)

45 (72.6)

0.036*

  1. ^Two-tailed p value calculated using Fisher’s exact test as the expected count is less than 5 in at least a group
  2. *Statistical significance p < 0.05 in the comparison between Android and iOS app features